Home Office

Visas: Coronavirus

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will automatically extend all visas due to expire during the covid-19 outbreak, including those of people unable to return to the UK due to travel restrictions.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the covid-19 outbreak. The latest information in respect of advice for visa holders can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.This advice is kept under regular review as we recognise further adjustments are likely to be required to cater for all scenarios. We are working through these to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Accommodation

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of inmates are housed in double cells in each prison as at May 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 18 May 2020.The correct answer should have been:

Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including index offence, health concerns and security information (such as beliefs and prejudices). We are creating additional space in the existing estate by deploying temporary accommodation cells. Alongside measures to limit prisoner movement and releasing low-risk offenders, this will help prevent our NHS being overwhelmed. These cells are a temporary measure to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Prisoners will return to their usual accommodation arrangements when it is safe to do so. We have robust and flexible plans in place to keep staff, the public and prisoners safe. These are based on the latest public health advice, and there are positive early signs that these are proving effective. The table below identifies the number of prisoners sharing cells holding two or more people as at 1 May 2020. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. PrisonTotal number of prisoners sharing cellsProportionPrisonTotal number of prisoners sharing cellsProportionAltcourse67364%Leicester23472%Ashfield15638%Lewes27847%Askham Grange6964%Leyhill00%Aylesbury00%Lincoln45473%Bedford24968%Lindholme32836%Belmarsh47359%Littlehey17215%Berwyn112463%Liverpool42861%Birmingham54762%Long Lartin00%Brinsford25049%Low Newton124%Bristol22045%Lowdham Grange61%Brixton55078%Maidstone6010%Bronzefield11023%Manchester31641%Buckley Hall7817%Moorland37041%Bullingdon71167%New Hall5716%Bure102%North Sea Camp20651%Cardiff43661%Northumberland00%Channings Wood6810%Norwich27039%Chelmsford31246%Nottingham37846%Coldingley246%Oakwood83242%Cookham Wood00%Onley15622%Dartmoor00%Parc67843%Deerbolt165%Pentonville59665%Doncaster79972%Peterborough37245%Dovegate22820%Peterborough Female8830%Downview00%Portland13427%Drake Hall5922%Prescoed6629%Durham83287%Preston51376%East Sutton Park9699%Ranby32634%Eastwood Park9328%Risley19618%Elmley73565%Rochester25441%Erlestoke7415%Rye Hill15824%Exeter34070%Send00%Featherstone11017%Spring HillSpringhill0158050%Feltham17043%Stafford55475%Ford0230045%Standford Hill00%Forest Bank84760%Stocken24824%Foston Hall11839%Stoke Heath32444%Frankland00%Styal22761%Full Sutton00%Sudbury30459%Garth223%Swaleside00%Gartree243%Swansea29477%Grendon00%Swinfen Hall9016%Guys Marsh10223%Thameside70263%Hatfield5818%The Mount21021%Haverigg00%The Verne305%High Down67259%Thorn Cross5214%Highpoint26221%Usk21386%Hindley25045%Wakefield00%Hewell50862%Wandsworth110277%Hollesley Bay6614%Warren Hill00%Holme House71662%Wayland30031%Hull61260%Wealstun00%Humber29430%Werrington00%Huntercombe22849%Wetherby00%Isis27246%Whatton12015%Isle Of Wight15215%Whitemoor00%Kirkham244%Winchester20845%Kirklevington Grange00%Woodhill5010%Lancaster Farms12424%Wormwood Scrubs58055%Leeds60867%Wymott545%Grand total   2917129,5593637%

Lucy Frazer: Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including index offence, health concerns and security information (such as beliefs and prejudices). We are creating additional space in the existing estate by deploying temporary accommodation cells. Alongside measures to limit prisoner movement and releasing low-risk offenders, this will help prevent our NHS being overwhelmed. These cells are a temporary measure to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Prisoners will return to their usual accommodation arrangements when it is safe to do so. We have robust and flexible plans in place to keep staff, the public and prisoners safe. These are based on the latest public health advice, and there are positive early signs that these are proving effective. The table below identifies the number of prisoners sharing cells holding two or more people as at 1 May 2020. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. PrisonTotal number of prisoners sharing cellsProportionPrisonTotal number of prisoners sharing cellsProportionAltcourse67364%Leicester23472%Ashfield15638%Lewes27847%Askham Grange6964%Leyhill00%Aylesbury00%Lincoln45473%Bedford24968%Lindholme32836%Belmarsh47359%Littlehey17215%Berwyn112463%Liverpool42861%Birmingham54762%Long Lartin00%Brinsford25049%Low Newton124%Bristol22045%Lowdham Grange61%Brixton55078%Maidstone6010%Bronzefield11023%Manchester31641%Buckley Hall7817%Moorland37041%Bullingdon71167%New Hall5716%Bure102%North Sea Camp20651%Cardiff43661%Northumberland00%Channings Wood6810%Norwich27039%Chelmsford31246%Nottingham37846%Coldingley246%Oakwood83242%Cookham Wood00%Onley15622%Dartmoor00%Parc67843%Deerbolt165%Pentonville59665%Doncaster79972%Peterborough37245%Dovegate22820%Peterborough Female8830%Downview00%Portland13427%Drake Hall5922%Prescoed6629%Durham83287%Preston51376%East Sutton Park9699%Ranby32634%Eastwood Park9328%Risley19618%Elmley73565%Rochester25441%Erlestoke7415%Rye Hill15824%Exeter34070%Send00%Featherstone11017%Spring HillSpringhill0158050%Feltham17043%Stafford55475%Ford0230045%Standford Hill00%Forest Bank84760%Stocken24824%Foston Hall11839%Stoke Heath32444%Frankland00%Styal22761%Full Sutton00%Sudbury30459%Garth223%Swaleside00%Gartree243%Swansea29477%Grendon00%Swinfen Hall9016%Guys Marsh10223%Thameside70263%Hatfield5818%The Mount21021%Haverigg00%The Verne305%High Down67259%Thorn Cross5214%Highpoint26221%Usk21386%Hindley25045%Wakefield00%Hewell50862%Wandsworth110277%Hollesley Bay6614%Warren Hill00%Holme House71662%Wayland30031%Hull61260%Wealstun00%Humber29430%Werrington00%Huntercombe22849%Wetherby00%Isis27246%Whatton12015%Isle Of Wight15215%Whitemoor00%Kirkham244%Winchester20845%Kirklevington Grange00%Woodhill5010%Lancaster Farms12424%Wormwood Scrubs58055%Leeds60867%Wymott545%Grand total   2917129,5593637%

Prison Accommodation

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prisoners sharing cells in each prison in each of the last three months.

Lucy Frazer: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 15 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

We are implementing our compartmentalisation strategy (isolating the symptomatic; quarantining new arrivals; and shielding the vulnerable) in the prison estate. The latest PHE modelling indicates this strategy has shown early signs of success. We are increasing headroom in the prison estate to better enable prisons to implement compartmentalisation and reduce the number of prisoners sharing cells. This has been actioned through a combination of the early release of low-risk offenders, provision of temporary accommodation and expediting remand hearings to reduce the unsentenced population. We are installing over 1,000 temporary cells to increase space and help reduce the spread of the virus. These units are being placed where there are the highest number of shared cells, a lack of in-cell sanitation and where there are high numbers of vulnerable prisoners. We have also opened an Annex at HMP/YOI Rochester to hold up to 70 men. Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including health concerns. The table below identifies the number of prisoners, broken down by establishment, sharing cells holding two or more people as at 27 March, 24 April and 29 May 2020. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system Total number of prisoners sharing cellsPrisonMar-20Apr-20May-20Altcourse731688684Ashfield150150152Askham Grange67680Aylesbury000Bedford268250242Belmarsh426467476Berwyn1,1641,0981,056Birmingham587479582Brinsford254256290Bristol230221217Brixton610536532Bronzefield138120104Buckley Hall888072Bullingdon750699737Bure381410Cardiff420408398Channings Wood946244Chelmsford350322302Coldingley40240Cookham Wood000Dartmoor000Deerbolt141614Doncaster775755760Dovegate226218224Downview000Drake Hall976541Durham754850744East Sutton Park939586Eastwood Park1119380Elmley686703683Erlestoke867864Exeter320352334Featherstone130110110Feltham196178130Ford025202340212Forest Bank823873801Foston Hall120118142Frankland000Full Sutton000Garth282222Gartree222422Grendon000Guys Marsh13612098Hatfield985816Haverigg000High Down686668633Highpoint286248236Hindley240254248Hewell612606508Hollesley Bay787344Holme House776730724Hull594608555Humber358296260Huntercombe234230208Isis312290246Isle Of Wight150156156Kirkham862416Kirklevington Grange000Lancaster Farms12666120Leeds793654746Leicester243231219Lewes304274176Leyhill1720Lincoln492476422Lindholme344332336Littlehey222184134Liverpool384430412Long Lartin000Low Newton501812Lowdham Grange426Maidstone646452Manchester354326284Moorland434388258New Hall614532North Sea Camp259252164Northumberland400Norwich308275250Nottingham420428402Oakwood962862810Onley154162154Parc800706736Pentonville814634668Peterborough358362398Peterborough Female11610074Portland146142128Prescoed787836Preston517535441Ranby396336322Risley216198178Rochester322274218Rye Hill172160158Send1400Spring HillSpringhill016401602126Stafford584562508Standford Hill000Stocken238242240Stoke Heath322318302Styal234235235Sudbury372298232Swaleside200Swansea343303254Swinfen Hall989662Thameside798710680The Mount224218220The Verne282721Thorn Cross845836Usk239219207Wakefield000Wandsworth1,1761,1461,120Warren Hill000Wayland344304286Wealstun5000Werrington000Wetherby000Whatton190136112Whitemoor000Winchester236222238Woodhill805424Wormwood Scrubs601558601Wymott1326816Total31,85532,27129,62330,01727,84528,181

Lucy Frazer: We are implementing our compartmentalisation strategy (isolating the symptomatic; quarantining new arrivals; and shielding the vulnerable) in the prison estate. The latest PHE modelling indicates this strategy has shown early signs of success. We are increasing headroom in the prison estate to better enable prisons to implement compartmentalisation and reduce the number of prisoners sharing cells. This has been actioned through a combination of the early release of low-risk offenders, provision of temporary accommodation and expediting remand hearings to reduce the unsentenced population. We are installing over 1,000 temporary cells to increase space and help reduce the spread of the virus. These units are being placed where there are the highest number of shared cells, a lack of in-cell sanitation and where there are high numbers of vulnerable prisoners. We have also opened an Annex at HMP/YOI Rochester to hold up to 70 men. Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including health concerns. The table below identifies the number of prisoners, broken down by establishment, sharing cells holding two or more people as at 27 March, 24 April and 29 May 2020. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system Total number of prisoners sharing cellsPrisonMar-20Apr-20May-20Altcourse731688684Ashfield150150152Askham Grange67680Aylesbury000Bedford268250242Belmarsh426467476Berwyn1,1641,0981,056Birmingham587479582Brinsford254256290Bristol230221217Brixton610536532Bronzefield138120104Buckley Hall888072Bullingdon750699737Bure381410Cardiff420408398Channings Wood946244Chelmsford350322302Coldingley40240Cookham Wood000Dartmoor000Deerbolt141614Doncaster775755760Dovegate226218224Downview000Drake Hall976541Durham754850744East Sutton Park939586Eastwood Park1119380Elmley686703683Erlestoke867864Exeter320352334Featherstone130110110Feltham196178130Ford025202340212Forest Bank823873801Foston Hall120118142Frankland000Full Sutton000Garth282222Gartree222422Grendon000Guys Marsh13612098Hatfield985816Haverigg000High Down686668633Highpoint286248236Hindley240254248Hewell612606508Hollesley Bay787344Holme House776730724Hull594608555Humber358296260Huntercombe234230208Isis312290246Isle Of Wight150156156Kirkham862416Kirklevington Grange000Lancaster Farms12666120Leeds793654746Leicester243231219Lewes304274176Leyhill1720Lincoln492476422Lindholme344332336Littlehey222184134Liverpool384430412Long Lartin000Low Newton501812Lowdham Grange426Maidstone646452Manchester354326284Moorland434388258New Hall614532North Sea Camp259252164Northumberland400Norwich308275250Nottingham420428402Oakwood962862810Onley154162154Parc800706736Pentonville814634668Peterborough358362398Peterborough Female11610074Portland146142128Prescoed787836Preston517535441Ranby396336322Risley216198178Rochester322274218Rye Hill172160158Send1400Spring HillSpringhill016401602126Stafford584562508Standford Hill000Stocken238242240Stoke Heath322318302Styal234235235Sudbury372298232Swaleside200Swansea343303254Swinfen Hall989662Thameside798710680The Mount224218220The Verne282721Thorn Cross845836Usk239219207Wakefield000Wandsworth1,1761,1461,120Warren Hill000Wayland344304286Wealstun5000Werrington000Wetherby000Whatton190136112Whitemoor000Winchester236222238Woodhill805424Wormwood Scrubs601558601Wymott1326816Total31,85532,27129,62330,01727,84528,181

Prison Accommodation: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to reduce the level of sharing of prison bedrooms during the covid-19 outbreak.

Lucy Frazer: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 15 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

We are implementing our compartmentalisation strategy (isolating the symptomatic; quarantining new arrivals; and shielding the vulnerable) in the prison estate. The latest PHE modelling indicates this strategy has shown early signs of success. We are increasing headroom in the prison estate to better enable prisons to implement compartmentalisation and reduce the number of prisoners sharing cells. This has been actioned through a combination of the early release of low-risk offenders, provision of temporary accommodation and expediting remand hearings to reduce the unsentenced population. We are installing over 1,000 temporary cells to increase space and help reduce the spread of the virus. These units are being placed where there are the highest number of shared cells, a lack of in-cell sanitation and where there are high numbers of vulnerable prisoners. We have also opened an Annex at HMP/YOI Rochester to hold up to 70 men. Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including health concerns. The table below identifies the number of prisoners, broken down by establishment, sharing cells holding two or more people as at 27 March, 24 April and 29 May 2020. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system Total number of prisoners sharing cellsPrisonMar-20Apr-20May-20Altcourse731688684Ashfield150150152Askham Grange67680Aylesbury000Bedford268250242Belmarsh426467476Berwyn1,1641,0981,056Birmingham587479582Brinsford254256290Bristol230221217Brixton610536532Bronzefield138120104Buckley Hall888072Bullingdon750699737Bure381410Cardiff420408398Channings Wood946244Chelmsford350322302Coldingley40240Cookham Wood000Dartmoor000Deerbolt141614Doncaster775755760Dovegate226218224Downview000Drake Hall976541Durham754850744East Sutton Park939586Eastwood Park1119380Elmley686703683Erlestoke867864Exeter320352334Featherstone130110110Feltham196178130Ford025202340212Forest Bank823873801Foston Hall120118142Frankland000Full Sutton000Garth282222Gartree222422Grendon000Guys Marsh13612098Hatfield985816Haverigg000High Down686668633Highpoint286248236Hindley240254248Hewell612606508Hollesley Bay787344Holme House776730724Hull594608555Humber358296260Huntercombe234230208Isis312290246Isle Of Wight150156156Kirkham862416Kirklevington Grange000Lancaster Farms12666120Leeds793654746Leicester243231219Lewes304274176Leyhill1720Lincoln492476422Lindholme344332336Littlehey222184134Liverpool384430412Long Lartin000Low Newton501812Lowdham Grange426Maidstone646452Manchester354326284Moorland434388258New Hall614532North Sea Camp259252164Northumberland400Norwich308275250Nottingham420428402Oakwood962862810Onley154162154Parc800706736Pentonville814634668Peterborough358362398Peterborough Female11610074Portland146142128Prescoed787836Preston517535441Ranby396336322Risley216198178Rochester322274218Rye Hill172160158Send1400Spring HillSpringhill016401602126Stafford584562508Standford Hill000Stocken238242240Stoke Heath322318302Styal234235235Sudbury372298232Swaleside200Swansea343303254Swinfen Hall989662Thameside798710680The Mount224218220The Verne282721Thorn Cross845836Usk239219207Wakefield000Wandsworth1,1761,1461,120Warren Hill000Wayland344304286Wealstun5000Werrington000Wetherby000Whatton190136112Whitemoor000Winchester236222238Woodhill805424Wormwood Scrubs601558601Wymott1326816Total31,85532,27129,62330,01727,84528,181

Lucy Frazer: We are implementing our compartmentalisation strategy (isolating the symptomatic; quarantining new arrivals; and shielding the vulnerable) in the prison estate. The latest PHE modelling indicates this strategy has shown early signs of success. We are increasing headroom in the prison estate to better enable prisons to implement compartmentalisation and reduce the number of prisoners sharing cells. This has been actioned through a combination of the early release of low-risk offenders, provision of temporary accommodation and expediting remand hearings to reduce the unsentenced population. We are installing over 1,000 temporary cells to increase space and help reduce the spread of the virus. These units are being placed where there are the highest number of shared cells, a lack of in-cell sanitation and where there are high numbers of vulnerable prisoners. We have also opened an Annex at HMP/YOI Rochester to hold up to 70 men. Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including health concerns. The table below identifies the number of prisoners, broken down by establishment, sharing cells holding two or more people as at 27 March, 24 April and 29 May 2020. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system Total number of prisoners sharing cellsPrisonMar-20Apr-20May-20Altcourse731688684Ashfield150150152Askham Grange67680Aylesbury000Bedford268250242Belmarsh426467476Berwyn1,1641,0981,056Birmingham587479582Brinsford254256290Bristol230221217Brixton610536532Bronzefield138120104Buckley Hall888072Bullingdon750699737Bure381410Cardiff420408398Channings Wood946244Chelmsford350322302Coldingley40240Cookham Wood000Dartmoor000Deerbolt141614Doncaster775755760Dovegate226218224Downview000Drake Hall976541Durham754850744East Sutton Park939586Eastwood Park1119380Elmley686703683Erlestoke867864Exeter320352334Featherstone130110110Feltham196178130Ford025202340212Forest Bank823873801Foston Hall120118142Frankland000Full Sutton000Garth282222Gartree222422Grendon000Guys Marsh13612098Hatfield985816Haverigg000High Down686668633Highpoint286248236Hindley240254248Hewell612606508Hollesley Bay787344Holme House776730724Hull594608555Humber358296260Huntercombe234230208Isis312290246Isle Of Wight150156156Kirkham862416Kirklevington Grange000Lancaster Farms12666120Leeds793654746Leicester243231219Lewes304274176Leyhill1720Lincoln492476422Lindholme344332336Littlehey222184134Liverpool384430412Long Lartin000Low Newton501812Lowdham Grange426Maidstone646452Manchester354326284Moorland434388258New Hall614532North Sea Camp259252164Northumberland400Norwich308275250Nottingham420428402Oakwood962862810Onley154162154Parc800706736Pentonville814634668Peterborough358362398Peterborough Female11610074Portland146142128Prescoed787836Preston517535441Ranby396336322Risley216198178Rochester322274218Rye Hill172160158Send1400Spring HillSpringhill016401602126Stafford584562508Standford Hill000Stocken238242240Stoke Heath322318302Styal234235235Sudbury372298232Swaleside200Swansea343303254Swinfen Hall989662Thameside798710680The Mount224218220The Verne282721Thorn Cross845836Usk239219207Wakefield000Wandsworth1,1761,1461,120Warren Hill000Wayland344304286Wealstun5000Werrington000Wetherby000Whatton190136112Whitemoor000Winchester236222238Woodhill805424Wormwood Scrubs601558601Wymott1326816Total31,85532,27129,62330,01727,84528,181